Local musical society reflects on 40th anniversary of production that was ‘all right on the night’
Some of the cast in Boyle Musical Society's production of 'The Gipsy Baron' 40 years ago, including Frank Feighan. Picture: Boyle Musical Society
A local musical society has reminisced about one of its famous and popular productions that was staged 40 years ago.
Boyle Musical Society's third annual production 'The Gipsy Baron', which was staged in St. Joseph's Hall in Boyle, was based on the popular operetta by Johann Strauss II. The show ran from Wednesday, April 16th until Sunday, April 20th 1986.
In a post on Facebook, the society recalled that 'The Gipsy Baron' was originally scheduled to open on April 13th, but was deferred by a few days.
“With a number of factors at play such as lines not learned, costumes not ready, dance routines not finalised — some not even started — and rehearsals going on until 2 a.m. in the morning, it was felt that postponing the opening until April 16th would be the best decision!
“Despite all that, 'The Gipsy Baron' was very well-received and packed houses each night led to two performances on the last day, including a hastily arranged matinée.”
Set in a tiny village in Hungary in the 1750s, the three-act show featured a host of colourful characters along with well-known songs such as “Danube River of Dreams”, “The Treasure Waltz”, “When Vienna Sings” and “Marching Along”.
The cast of 59 had been rehearsing since November 1985. Following the untimely death of the Society’s original director Liam O’ Callaghan, the direction of ‘The Gipsy Baron’ was taken over by Danny Tiernan.
“Rehearsals took place in the Forest Park Hotel and the gym at Scoil na n'Aingeal Naofa before moving to the Hall in the early spring,” the musical society’s post continued.
“Musical direction was handled by Mai Conroy and the choreography was devised by Mary McDonagh. Members of the Army band in Athlone formed part of the orchestra.
“A young lady from Longford, Anne Farrell, agreed to become the pianist for the show and little did she know then, that answering that phone call would lead to 40 years at the piano with BMS. Anne Farrell from Longford is now of course our long serving and hard working musical director, Anne Kielty!” The cast included Frank Feighan, Paddy Nangle, Rosaleen Moran, Gerard Tivnan, Mary Ryan, Christopher O’Connor, Catherine Reid, Josephine Carroll, Frank O’Mahoney, Arnold Gaffney, Michelle McGee, Niamh Nangle, Adrian McKenna, Miriam O’Connor, Brendan McGee, Ursula Kelly, Austin Tarpey, Emma Dodd, Enda O’Callaghan, Monica Hayden, Laura Tighe, Chris Killalea, Helen Finn, Dom Hogan, Joe O’Donnell, Christy Grehan, Mary Gallagher, Anne Marie Callery, Denise Costello, Owen O’Donohoe, Irene Madden, Carmel Doherty and Prionsias McGee.
